Thread: Separate hit-run incidents kill 2 cops

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Separate hit-run incidents kill 2 cops
Injuries are fatal to an Orange deputy. In Polk, a policeman is struck by a van and a truck.
Jim Leusner, Willoughby Mariano and Elaine Aradillas
Sentinel Staff Writers

August 3, 2006, 12:33 AM EDT

Even though he received massive blood transfusions, an Orange County deputy critically injured near Universal Orlando when police said a hit-and-run driver purposefully struck him was removed from life support Wednesday night.

Deputy Michael A. Callin was pronounced dead at 7:25 p.m. as about 300 relatives, friends and co-workers crowded Orlando Regional Medical Center to be nearby, Sheriff Kevin Beary said. The married, 26-year-old motorcycle officer had fought for life for more than a day while doctors worked to repair catastrophic internal injuries that included brain damage and kidney failure.

"It's an absolutely senseless loss for the community," Beary said. "There's an attitude of lawlessness out there."

In nearby Polk County, colleagues were mourning the death of a Haines City police officer killed by a hit-and-run driver as he was riding to work on a motorcycle before dawn Wednesday.

Phoenix Montana Braithwaite, 24, was heading south on U.S. Highway 17-92 when he was struck head-on by a van and then run over by a flatbed truck near the Osceola County line, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.

Suspects in both cases abandoned their vehicles and fled on foot before being captured.

In a brief appearance in an Orange County Jail courtroom, the man charged with trying to kill Callin was ordered held without bail. Allan O. Barahona, 19, of Orlando told Judge Nancy Clark that he did not need a public defender.

"I'm going to hire my own attorney," he said softly.

Barahona was charged before Callin's death with attempted murder of a law-enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, and resisting an officer without violence. Investigators expect to amend the charges to include murder, after an autopsy is performed.

Homicide Sgt. Rich Ring said detectives are confident they arrested the suspect who drove a 1996 Honda Civic into Callin, a four-year Sheriff's Office deputy, during a speeding enforcement operation along an on-ramp from Kirkman Road to I-4 near Universal Orlando at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Callin stepped into the roadway to signal Barahona to stop, but Barahona swerved left and downshifted to accelerate past Callin, according to an arrest affidavit released late Wendnesday

Callin stepped into the Honda's path again, and Barahona failed to maneuver around him, the document states. Witnesses told Orlando police that Barahona had ample time to avoid hitting the motorcycle officer, and that he failed to brake or try to drive around the deputy.

One witness told them that "it appeared the defendant [Barahona] intentionally struck the victim [Callin]," according to the affidavit.

Authorities said three passengers were detained as they searched for Barahona, who was arrested by deputies shortly after midnight in the Pine Hills area west of Orlando.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement and court records show that Barahona has been arrested at least six times since September 2003, on charges that included fraud, burglary and twice driving with a suspended license. Barahona has been cited for 14 traffic offenses and was arrested by Orange County deputies May 30 for driving with a suspended license. His license was suspended indefinitely on July 27, records show.

Late Tuesday and early Wednesday, Callin underwent surgeries for a torn femoral artery, and part of his right leg was amputated. Doctors stabilized him and then noticed swelling on his brain that caused irreversible damage, Beary said.

After trauma surgeons consulted with a neurosurgeon, Callin's family decided to end life support, and he died minutes later.

The deputy's need for 179 units of blood, platelets and plasma during his first 12 hours of treatment spurred a public appeal for blood donations throughout the region, said Dawn Vaughan, communications manager for the nonprofit Florida's Blood Centers.

Callin is the 13th Orange deputy to die in the line of duty. His death also marks the 35th murder in Orlando this year. In Polk County on Wednesday, about a half-dozen law-enforcement agencies searched eight hours before catching Miguel Gonzalez, who was driving the van that hit Braithwaite. Police said after the crash that Gonzalez ran into woods on the side of the highway, leaving Braithwaite on the pavement and two injured passengers inside his van.

Trooper Kim Miller, spokeswoman for the Highway Patrol, expressed frustration at what she said is a growing problem: This was the seventh hit-and-run death in Central Florida since May and the third serious hit-and-run accident in the region since Saturday.

Hit-and-runs are "absolutely an epidemic. No one wants to stay around the scene anymore," Miller said. "They're leaving people to die on the side of the road."

Gonzalez, 43, was driving without a license and was interviewed by Border Patrol agents because officials concluded he was an illegal immigrant from Mexico. He will be charged with a second-degree felony, leaving the scene of an accident without rendering aid involving injury or death, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.

Braithwaite was a rookie who started his career less than a year ago after serving 2 1/2 years in the Army as an assistant gunner. The father, whose wife and infant daughter live in Osceola County, started on the force in September and often thanked his chief for giving him his first civilian job.

Ironically, Beary had a connection to Braithwaite as well as Callin. He was Braithwaite's instructor in a terrorism class he is teaching at Florida Metropolitan University in Orlando.

"Both loved the job," Beary said. "Mike Callin told his dad the other day, 'Dad, I love my job, and I'd do it without pay.' And Phoenix Braithwaite was cut from the same mold."

Sarah Lundy and Scott Powers contributed to this report. Jim Leusner can be reached at jleusner@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5411. Willoughby Mariano can be reached at wmariano@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5171. Elaine Aradillas can be reached at earadillas@orlandosentinel.com or 407-931-5940.

Suspects in both cases abandoned their vehicles and fled on foot before being captured.

The most used 5 word phrase in San Diego television news:

"the suspect fled on foot"

Hit-and-runs are "absolutely an epidemic. No one wants to stay around the scene anymore," Miller said. "They're leaving people to die on the side of the road."

Get used to it. As long as these people refuse to obey driving laws and regulations the same way they refuse to obey immigration, employment and tax laws, the more these terrible incidents will become commonplace. And thanks to idiots like Bush and his stooge Chertoff, who keep ignoring the need to secure our borders and how they NEVER deport these criminal aliens, or do anything to keep them coming right back again in two weeks, this is going to keep on happening. At least until someone in their family dies at the hands of an illegal alien.

http://www.oscnewsgazette.com/index.php ... &sid=13488

Charged in hit and run

The Orange-Osceola State Attorney has filed two charges against Miguel Garduno-Gonzalez, 43, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, in connection with the hit-and-run death of a Haines City police officer Aug. 2.
Garduno-Gonzalez was charged on Aug. 24 with leaving the scene of an accident with death and driving without a valid license causing serious bodily injury or death.

According to authorities, Garduno-Gonzalez was driving northbound in a 1998 Ford van on U.S. Highway 17-92 near the Polk County line, a two lane road, when he attempted to pass two tractor trailers. While passing, Garduno-Gonzalez struck Phoenix Braithwaite, 24, of Kissimmee, who was on his personal motorcycle traveling southbound on his way to work. Braithwaite, who was married with a 2-year-old daughter, was hit again by a tractor-trailer.

Braithwaite, a Haines City officer since 2005, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Garduno-Gonzalez fled on foot, and was subject to a manhunt by personnel from the Florida Highway Patrol, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, Polk County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Marshal’s Office. He was found by Polk County deputies four blocks from his home. His family and passengers in the van had cooperated with authorities.

Adding a few missed articles and some pictures.

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... 20411/1004

Published Tuesday, August 22, 2006
HAINES CITY

Hit-and-Run Suspect Faces More Charges



Miguel Garduno Gonzalez, the man charged in the hit-and-run death of a Haines City police officer, is awaiting further charges in the Osceola County Jail.

Gonzalez, 43, of Haines City, was transferred to the Osceola County Jail from the Polk County Jail on Aug. 15.

He is charged with leaving the scene of an accident where a death occurred and not having a driver license.

According to reports, on Aug. 2, Gonzalez was driving a van that while passing two trucks on U.S. 17-92 in Osceola County, near the Polk County line, struck Officer Phoenix Braithwaite, 24, while he was on his way to work.

Braithwaite, who was riding his motorcycle, was hit head-on and died at the scene.

Gonzalez, who is an illegal immigrant, was not injured in the accident and fled the scene. Two passengers in the van, who also were not hurt, are illegal immigrants and are being held as material witnesses.



http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... G/60802002

Published Wednesday, August 2, 2006

Haines City Police Officer Killed in Hit-and-Run Crash

By Amber Smith
The Ledger


HAINES CITY -- A man suspected in the hit-and-run death of an off-duty Haines City police officer is in custody.

Miquel Gonzales, 43, was taken to the Haines City Police Department this afternoon.

Police Officer Phoenix Braithwaite was riding his new motorcycle on his way to work early Wednesday morning when he was struck head-on by a hit-and-run driver.

Braithwaite, 24, whose birthday was next Thursday, was lying in the northbound lane of U.S. 17-92 near the Osceola-Polk County line and was then struck by two trucks.

Gonzales fled the scene of the accident. Two passengers in the van were taken to a local hospital.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Braithwaite was riding his 2006 Kawasaki motorcycle south on U.S. 17-92 in Osceola County when the accident happened.

The van was heading north on U.S. 17-92 when it started passing a tractor-trailer and a cement truck when it struck Braithwaite’s motorcycle head on, according to the Highway Patrol.

The force of the impact threw Braithwaite and the motorcycle into the northbound lane where they were run over both trucks.

Gonzales fled the scene on foot.

Sheriff’s deputies have relieved the Haines City police officers working the shift the officer was on.

Braithwaite was wearing a helmet.


http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... 40331/1134

Published Friday, August 4, 2006

FHP Thinks Suspect's ID Is Fake
Miguel Gonzalez is charged in the death of a Haines City police officer.

By Amber Smith
The Ledger



HAINES CITY -- Florida Highway Patrol investigators are looking into how illegal immigrant Miguel Gonzalez, charged in the hit-and-run death of an off-duty police officer, got what they think is a counterfeit Florida ID card.

Gonzalez, 43, of 3601 Baker Dairy Road, was charged in the Wednesday death of Haines City Officer Phoenix Braithwaite.

Gonzalez had his first appearance in the 10th Judicial Circuit Court on Thursday afternoon, where no plea was entered, but a public defender was appointed. He is being held without bail at the Polk County Jail.

"He is an illegal immigrant in this country. There's nothing keeping him here. We believed he would be a flight risk," Highway Patrol Cpl. John Carvalho told Bay News 9.

If Gonzalez had not fled the scene, he would have been given a ticket in the accident, said Carvalho, who was at Gonzalez's first appearance Thursday to make sure no bail was set.

"He made the wrong decision and he is going to have to pay the consequences," he told Bay News 9.

Investigators are still looking into the case, but they are convinced Gonzalez's state ID card is counterfeit. He never filed an application for an ID card, said Frank Penela, spokesman for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

"There is no matching record to that name," Penela said. "It has to be counterfeit. We would have a record of it if it was valid."

Investigators will be checking into where Gonzalez got the ID card, said Trooper Kim Miller of the Highway Patrol, which is investigating the case.

"That will all be a part of the investigation, which could take anywhere up to 60 days before it is completed," said Miller, an FHP spokeswoman.

Gonzalez was driving a van that belonged to Maria Ponce-Luvianos, Miller said. She said investigators are trying to find out why he had her van.

Gonzalez and his two passengers were on their way to work at an Orlando golf course when the crash occurred.

All three are in the country illegally, according to U.S. Citizenship and Naturalization Services officials, who have interviewed them.

The two passengers, Orovelio Martinez and Javier Benitez, were picked up by USCNS officials and are being detained as material witnesses, Miller said. They are not being charged.

Martinez, who was sitting in the front passenger seat of the van, and Benitez, who was in the right rear seat, were taken to Osceola Regional Medical Center for treatment after the accident. Neither had life-threatening injuries, Miller said. She said Benitez is Gonzalez's brother.

Braithwaite, 24, was on his way to work about 5:25 a.m. Wednesday on U.S. 17-92 in Osceola County near the Polk County line when he was hit head-on by a van driven by Gonzalez, authorities said. He died at the scene.

Gonzalez was passing a tractor-trailer and a cement truck at the time of the accident. The force of the crash threw Braithwaite and his motorcycle into the trucks' path, which ran over them.

Gonzalez ran from the crash, but was arrested by Polk County sheriff's deputies about 4 p.m. Wednesday as he was walking back toward his home.

He is charged with leaving the scene of an accident where a death occurred, which is a second-degree felony, and not having a driver license.

As he was being led out of the Haines City Police Department on Wednesday and taken to Polk County Jail, Gonzalez said he ran because he was scared and didn't have a driver license.

Mario Mora Trejos, Gonzalez's pastor, did not want to talk about Gonzalez on Thursday.

A woman who said she is a family friend of Gonzalez said Thursday he is a kind and family-oriented man.

"Everybody makes mistakes," Hilda Benitz told Bay News 9. "Maybe he went into shock. We don't know. Only he knows what he felt during the accident.

"We are hurt by this," she said. "He's a good person, and it's a misfortune. It could have happened to anybody."

Braithwaite's funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the NorthRidge Christian Church at 2250 Scenic Highway S. in Haines City. He will be given a full law enforcement officer's funeral with honor guard.

"He was on his way to work when he was killed. He was on his way to protect and serve the citizens of Haines City. We feel he deserves the full honors," said police Chief Morris West.

Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church.

West said there has been an outpouring of sympathy for Braithwaite's family from the community and from various police agencies.

Braithwaite's wife, Ivette, has said she is not ready to give interviews about her husband's death. The couple have a 2-year-old daughter.

"We will continue to be here for her and whatever she needs," West said. "The department is a very close-knit family. Phoenix was one of our family."

Amber Smith can be reached at amber.smith@theledger.com or 863-422-6800. Ledger reporter Jason Geary contributed to this article.

Man gets prison in officer's crash death
He still faces a trial on a charge of leaving the scene of a fatal accident. A Haines City cop died.
Mark Pino
Sentinel Staff Writer

June 2, 2007

KISSIMMEE -- A man accused of driving the van that killed a Haines City police officer last summer was sentenced Friday to 7 1/2 years in prison for driving without a license and causing serious bodily injury or death.

Miguel Garduno-Gonzalez, 45, still faces trial in August on a charge of leaving the scene of the accident that claimed the life of Phoenix Montana Braithwaite, a 24-year-old rookie.

"Today is a good day for us," said Haines City police Chief Morris West, who said he looks forward to the trial on the related charge.

"There's some closure because he is going to state prison for a time.

"It's sad for [Braithwaite's] family. They are still grieving," West said.

West said he plans to attend every day of Garduno-Gonzalez's trial. He said the man could serve a maximum of 15 years for leaving the accident scene.

As part of Friday's sentence, Garduno-Gonzalez was ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution.

Braithwaite was killed as he rode his motorcycle to work on U.S. Highway 17-92 on Aug. 2.

It was the same day that Orange County Deputy Sheriff Michael Callin succumbed to injuries from another hit-and-run accident a day earlier.

Braithwaite was struck head-on by a van, whose driver sped away, and then was run over by a flatbed truck near the Osceola-Polk County line, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.

About a half-dozen law-enforcement agencies searched eight hours before catching Garduno-Gonzalez. Police said that after the crash, he ran into woods on the side of the highway, leaving Braithwaite on the pavement and two injured passengers inside his van.

Garduno-Gonzalez was driving without a license and interviewed by Border Patrol agents because officials concluded he was an illegal immigrant from Mexico.

Braithwaite's widow, Ivette, filed a civil suit against Garduno-Gonzalez last year and against Maria Ponce-Luvianos,whom the complaint describes as the owner of the van.

The wrongful-death suit seeks damages in excess of $15,000 and states that Garduno-Gonzalez failed to call for help and left "Phoenix M. Braithwaite dying while he ran from the scene."

It also states that Ponce-Luvianos knew Garduno-Gonzalez was not in the country legally and had no license but still gave him permission to drive the vehicle involved in the accident.

Braithwaite, who also is survived by a young daughter, had started his career less than a year before the accident after serving 2 1/2 years in the Army.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-hitn ... -headlines

Suspects in both cases abandoned their vehicles and fled on foot before being captured.

This is the standard modus operandi for these damn illegals. ANYTIME they have an accident they split.